Title: Strategic leveraging of videoconferencing and web-enabled conferencing in an information-rich environment

Authors: Alan D. Smith

Addresses: Department of Management and Marketing, 600th Fifth Ave, Robert Morris University, Pittsburgh, PA 15219-3099, USA

Abstract: The stage is set for businesses and residential customers to harness the power and sophistication associated with high and low speed networks, providing premium multimedia functionality, whether a user deploys a 56k modem or a gigabit LAN in videoconferencing technologies. It is important to understand that the video link in supporting awareness of individual presence and revealing attention of remote partners are major shortcomings of audio contact alone. Traditionally, in the absence of visual evidence that clients are present, remote participants had to rely on verbal mechanisms to stay abreast of each other|s activities. Hence, videoconferencing has a great advantage over audio alone but needs the following to grow to its full potential: the right equipment; matching technology to corporate need; good management planning; and quality and appropriateness of training. The connectivity/conductivity and personal dynamics associated with videoconferencing to empower team members around the world to discuss the latest data, charts, technical drawings, or marketing reports (all in real time) far surpasses the one-way communication characteristics of traditional e-mail systems. This paper includes discussions of the communication process in corporations and model needs to adapt and standardise videoconferencing technologies in order to achieve better performance.

Keywords: broadband; e-commerce; human factors; service; standards; videoconferencing technologies; communication; web-enabled conferencing.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSS.2004.005697

International Journal of Services and Standards, 2004 Vol.1 No.2, pp.206 - 227

Published online: 20 Nov 2004 *

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